Swing



A. M. TOWE July 25, 1950 SWING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1946 A. M. TOWE July 25, 195o SWING Filed Jan, 3, 1946 e m .N Vw w A @x LIEN ,A m

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July 25, 195o Filed Jan. 3, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LL :M

l l1 rel/tor www 'a Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED 'S TA'TES PATENT OFFICE 2,516,275 I l l I SWINGI Amos M. Towe, Dayton, Ohio Application January 3, 194.6,"Serial`No. $38,824

`lMyinvention relates `to lawn swings ofthe type by having two seatsopposing each other inopposite directions andadaptedy to 'oe-operated or swung back and forth from yalsuperstructure, except that in the presentl invention, `the seats are' hung to'swing in iunisonwith a floorboard there beneath, the suspension being from the upper ends of-'uprights pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a Vcarriageadapted to roll back and forth on trackways supporting-"the entire structurewith arolling or'g-lidingmotion of the vcarriage and slightly pitching :movement of the uprights and connected seats lsuspended thereby at the limits lof the movements'of the uprights in either direction, fvwhile"me`ans are provided tending to yieldingly returnand hold the superstructure' and carriage "in ,normally centralized position but adapted to Aperniit'zof their "swinging androlling movements baclcandforth 'in either direction.

' It is also an object Vof the "invention to provide a swing in which the superstructure, seats suspended therefrom to swing back-and lforth `and oorboard connecting* the same are suspended from the kupper ends of flexible uprights pivotally'supported at their lowerf ends, 'while means is provided for engagement by said' uprights to limit the swinging movement-thereof in either direction and by engagement; of the uprghts therewith, to cause flexing of the uprightsfwherebyfa slight pitching movement `is imparted to the suspended seats, tov render the swinging `action more zestful, interesting-and enjoyable, while at the same Vtime requiring'less effort on the part ofthe occupant ini propelling` the swing 'seats alternately back and forth by'falternatelyshoving or-pressing with the feet onthe floorboard.

Another object ofthe invention fis to provide a swing in which the vswinging movements are not only fromthe top asf'with' the conventional lawn swing, -but'also upon fulcrurns'aty V`boththe top'and bottom, giving a relatively Vdouble action swinging movement infaddition to the pitching movement above Vreferred 'tofand'whioh can "be manufactured and sold with the additional advantages and features set forth, at a price knot appreciably above the cost `ofthe ordinary "lawn swing.

Other objects -and advantages reside in the details of construction land 'operation `as `more fully hereinafter described and^claimed,'refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure lis aside elevation'rofff-alawn swing 55 9 Claims. (Cl. 155-460) constructed in accordanceiwi-th-the invention and shown in its normal positionv in full lines, and in positions at either end vof `its Vswing oppositedirections, indotted lines, as well as showing therolling movement of the carriage upon the tracks.

AFigure 2 is an -end` elevation of the swing. VFigure 3v is `a fragmentary detail vertical sectional view'showing the manner of supporting the swing and rits carriage upon the trackv'vay. yligure 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary transverse sectionalview showing thel manner ofsupporting the resilient 'uprights from which the swing seats vand footboard are suspended.

Figure 5 `isa plan `view of thev trackway, and Figure is a fragmentary top' plan `view of the swing'with the ends 'ofthe carriage land trackway vomitted to show'the uprights supportingthe superstructure at their upper ends and fromwhich theseats are'supported together with the meansv for limiting-the back and forth swinging motions and causing slight pitching movement thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the swing is shownas comprising a base frame or track` Way III of rectangular o'utlinehaving 'parallel side `rail `|I connected at the ends by cross-members `I2 and bearing longitudinal parallel tracks or rails I3. A carriage or supplemental base |14 also comprising-a'rectangular frame consisting` of` parallel side bars :and cross bars connecting the same andhaving'aooring 'I5 disposed on land'connecting vtheside bars, is adapted to roll back yand forth. within'the trackway upon the runways "formed by theme'mbers II'by means of wheels I6 which are' guided in their' movements and yprevented from becoming Adisplaced from the runways, by longitudinal parallel'guard rails formedby the` tracks 'or rails I'3 and from "running l#off the trackway at eitherend of the runways, kby' transverse bumpers I1 at the endsof the vruriways o'n the cross-members l2 by extensionA` above 'the same 'The carriage maybe guided-V in its 4movements back and forth on the runways andv prevented from flying up or Ajumpcables I8 and loops 20' on each side of the swing y carriage I4 at each outside corner also engage orl'encirclerods"` or'y vv'cables I 8 to prevent upward" 3 displacement of the carriage to keep same from jumping the tracks or getting out of line. A frame structure is supported on the carriage I4 and includes oppositely inclined standards 2| connected to the side bars of the carriage I4 in slots at the ends thereof and abutting each other at their upper beveled ends, as indicated at 22. These standards support parallel horizontal side bars 23 bolted at the inside `of the standards 2l in spaced relation thereto through interposed spacers 24 and having their ends terminating short of the ends of the base frame and runways or tracks, as well as slightly short of the ends of the carriage I4. These horizontal members or bars 23 have uprights 25 connected thereto at their outer sides, and intermediately of the ends thereof in the space provided by the spacing blocks 24 between standards 2l and bars 23 and extend upwardly, where they are secured to the upper abutting ends of the standards 2I and extend slightly above the same where they are connected by a cross-beam or bar 26 bracing the structure transversely.

Instead of supporting the seats and floorboard from the top of the frame as in the conventional swing, they are supported by a pair of uprights 21 at each side which have their lower extremities extending through openings 28 in the flooring I5 of the'carriage I4 and xed as at 29 to transverse pivot rods 30 mounted in the side bars or rails of the carriage I4, so that all of the uprights 21 will move in unison. The upper portions of the uprights 21 consist of spring steel strips 3| attached at their lower portions to uprights 21 as at 3| and connected or pivoted at their upper ends in pairs at each end of the seat structure or swing proper by cross rods 32 on which the super-structure 33 rests, and from which the swing proper is suspended. This super-structure consists of a rectangular frame including side bars 34 secured or pivoted to the cross-rods 32 and connected by cross-members 35 at the end of the side bars 34.

Hangers 36 are suspended from the cross-rods 32, there being a pair suspended from each rod and rigidly secured at their lower ends, as at 31, to the sides of seats 38 provided with depending front panels 39 secured to hangers 36. ends of the hangers 3B are pivotally connected to the swing proper or seat structure as at 40 beneath the ends of a oorboard or platform 4I and more 'particularly side rails 42 thereof on transverse pivot rods 43 extending between and connecting the hangers 36 and side rails 42 at each end of the door board 4I and beneath the seats 38 which also connect the hangers. Thus, in addition to the seats and floorboard swinging from the top by means of the suspended hangers' 3B with the top of the super-structure forming a support for a roof or canopy thereover, they and the super-structure are also adapted to swing with the hangers 3B and slide back andV forth with the carriage I4 and uprights 21, which latter are limited in their sliding movements back and forth with carriage I4 and swinging movements back and forth due to the nexing of thev The lower the flexing of the resilient strips 3I of the uprights 21 and add an additional zestful and enj oyable movement to the swing and the occupants of the seats thereof. This operation is effected in the usual manner of operating a lawn swing by alternately shoving or pressing with the feet on the floorboard 4 I, to cause the same to swing back and forth. In addition, when this motion is accelerated, thesuper-struoture will also swing or move back and forth causing or assisted by the action of stretching and retracting springs or other elastic members 45 connecting the cross members or bars 35 with the cross beam or bar 26 alternately contracting or compressing at one side and expanding at the other side. The pitching eifect comes when the uprights 21 supporting the superstructure, reach the end of their movements at Vthe resilient or exible strips 3| and strike the'ends of the guide loops or guards 44 which also serve to guide the uprights in their movements.- 'Moreoven when the swing begins to move back and forth, hangers 36 of the door board and seat .structure start the'superstructure towhich the uprights4 21 are attached at their upper ends toY move back vand forth, and since the seats rare suspended or hung from this superstructure,A as theniotion is accelerated, by reason of the throw in either direction, the thrust and weight thereof will cause the carriage I4 to move or-roll yback land forth at the wheels I6 upon the trackway to the ends of the runways or in close proximity thereto.' If the carriage should run to the ends lof the trackway, lit will strike the bumpers I1` which'limit the movements of the carriage and then from'this position, the carriage will move with the swing of the swing proper consisting of the seats and floorboard, in the opposite direction.' This movement is effected by the movementsof the swing proper and uprights, causing the stretching and retracting action of springs or outer resilient members 46, connected intermediately of the widths of the carriage I4 to the endsthereofand to the cross-rails or members -I2 of the supporting base and trackway which alternately lcontract and expand or stretch,` as fthe carriage fand-swing supported thereby move back andforth. This vgives'an additional enjoyable motion to the swing not possible in any prior swing of this character. At the same time, in addition the bumpers I1 limit the movements at either end of the motion of the carriage, in moving back 'and forth. The rods or cables I8 by reason of the engagement of projecting means on the carriage, such as the axles or shafts 20, therebeneath for sliding motion thereunder, and loops 20 vengaged around or encircling the rods or cables I8, will prevent upward displacement of the swing and carriage to keep the swing structure fromzying up or jumping the tracks.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the oonstruction, operation-and advantages of the device will be quite 'apparent to those skilled in the art. A more detailed description thereof is accordingly deemediunnecessary. l

It is to 'be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a pre` ferred embodiment of my invention the same is susceptible fto certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein describe claim is:4 Y I A I? 1. A swing cmprisingl 'a base, a frames'upported thereon, flexible uprights fixed to the frame, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, hangers suspended from the superstructure, opposed seats carried by the opposed hangers and connections between the lower portions of the hangers.

2. A swing comprising a base, a frame supported thereon, flexible uprights fixed to the frame, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, hangers suspended from the superstructure and pivotally connected to the upper ends of the uprights, means for centraliz ing the superstructure with respect to the frame, opposed seats secured to the hangers and a floorboard connecting the lower ends of the hangers and extending between the seats.

3. A swing comprising a base, an upright frame supported thereon, uprights xed to the frame and having flexible upper portions, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, hangers pivotally suspended from the superstructure, means for centralizing the superstructure with respect to the frame, opposed seats secured to the hangers, a iioorboard connecting the lower ends of the hangers and extending between the seats, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on the base to which carriage the frame is anchored, and means to guide the carriage in its movements back and forth.

4. A swing comprising a base, a carriage movable kback and forth thereon and a frame supported on'the carriage, oscillatable nexible uprights fixed to the carriage, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, hangers pivotally suspended from the superstructure, connections between the lower portions of the hangers, and means to guide the carriage in its movements back and forth on the base.

5. A swing comprising a base, an upright frame supported thereon, flexible uprights fixed to the frame, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith in flexing, hangers suspended from the superstructure, connections between the lower portions of the hangers, said frame including oppositely inclined standards at each side of the base, a cross-member connecting said standards and means on the frame to check the movements of the uprights in either direction to cause flexing thereof.

6. A swing comprising a base, a ,frame supported thereon, uprights fixed to the frame, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, hangers suspended from the superstructure and connected thereto, means for centralizing the superstructure with respect to the frame, opposed seats secured to the hangers and a floorboard connecting the lower ends of the hangers and extending between the seats, said Number uprights having resilient upper portions, and means on the frame limiting the movements .of the uprights in either direction and adapted to cause flexing of said resilient portions to impart a pitching movement to the hangers and parts carried thereby.

7. A swing comprising a base having guideways, a carriage supported to roll back and forth on the guideways, means between the base and carriage to centralize the movement of the carriage, means to prevent displacement of the carriage from the guideways, means to limit the movement of the carriage in either direction, a frame mounted on the carriage, uprights fixed to the carriage at their lower ends and having resilient upper portions, a superstructure supported on the upper ends of the uprights, means between the frame and the superstructure for centralizing the position thereof, means to cause flexing of the upper portions of the uprights in a direction of movement, hangers suspended from the superstructure, seats supported on the hangers, and a floorboard connecting opposite pairs of hangers between the seats.

8. A swing comprising a base, a frame reciprocally supported thereon, flexible uprights pivoted to the bottom of the frame, a superstructure pivoted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to move back and forth therewith, hangers pivotally suspended from the superstructure, opposed seats carried by the opposed hangers, connections between the lower portions of the hangers, and means on the base to limit the reciprocation of the frame thereon. l

9. A swing comprising` a base, a carriage adapted to move back and forth on the base,

means to centralize the carriage on. the base,

means to limit the movement of the carriage in opposite directions, an upright frame structure supported on the' carriage, uprights xed to the carriage and having flexible upper portions, a superstructure mounted on the upper ends of the uprights and adapted to swing back and forth therewith, means on the frame to engage the uprights to limit the flexing thereof, hangers pivotally suspended from the superstructure to swing back and forth and cause movement of the uprights and carriage back and forth on the base, means for centralizing the superstructure with respect to the frame and carriage, opposed seats supported on the hangers and a connection n between the hangers below the seats.

AMOS M. TOWE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 678,192 1,646,160

Milan Oct. 18, 1927 Morton May 1, 1934 Olson July 9, 1901' 

